Transesterification catalyst mixing system

Abstract

A transesterification reaction system having a catalyst dissolution chamber, a catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber, a holding chamber and a fluid transfer device for circulating the triglyceride component, is disclosed. The catalyst dissolution chamber includes a turbulating device for wetting solid catalyst with an alcohol component and the catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber includes a turbulent flow suction device. A transesterification method using the reaction system described above is also disclosed.

1 . A transesterification reaction apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a catalyst dissolution chamber comprising: 
 (i) catalyst mixing chamber comprising: 
 (a) inlets for solid catalyst and alcohol components; and  
 (b) turbulating device for wetting the solid catalyst component with the alcohol component; and  
 
 (ii) catalyst solution chamber coupled to the catalyst mixing chamber comprising: 
 (a) filtration device located at an interface of the catalyst mixing chamber and the catalyst solution chamber for preventing transmission of solid catalyst from the catalyst mixing chamber to a catalyst solution comprising dissolved catalyst component in the catalyst solution chamber; and  
 (b) outlet for the catalyst solution;  
 
   (B) a catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber comprising: 
 (i) turbulent flow suction device;  
 (ii) first inlet for transferring the catalyst solution into the turbulent flow suction device, wherein the first inlet is coupled to the outlet form the catalyst solution chamber of the catalyst dissolution chamber;  
 (iii) second inlet for transferring a triglyceride component into the turbulent flow device, wherein the second inlet is coupled to a triglyceride feed line; and  
 (iv) outlet for transfer of a mixture of the catalyst solution and the triglyceride component;  
   (C) a holding chamber comprising a container foe holding the triglyceride component and transesterifaction reaction products; and    (D) a fluid transfer device coupled to the holding chamber for transfer of the triglyceride component through the triglyceride feed line to the second inlet of the catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The reaction apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the turbulating device comprises a nozzle configured to deliver the alcohol component tangentially to a wall of the catalyst mixing chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The reaction apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the filtration device comprises a metal screen.  
     
     
         4 . The reaction apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the turbulent flow suction device comprises a venturi tube.  
     
     
         5 . The reaction apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container of the holding chamber encloses the catalyst dissolution chamber and the catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber in an upper portion of the holding chamber.  
     
     
         6 . A method for transesterification comprising, but not all necessary in order shown: 
 (A) combining at least one solid catalyst component with an alcohol component in the presence of a turbulating device for wetting the solid catalyst component with the alcohol component;    (B) forming a catalyst solution comprising transferring a mixture of the solid catalyst component and the alcohol component from a catalyst mixing chamber to a catalyst solution chamber while filtering the mixture of the solid catalyst component from the catalyst mixing chamber to the catalyst solution chamber;    (C) combining the catalyst solution with a triglyceride component in a catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber comprising: 
 (a) transferring the catalyst solution from the catalyst chamber into a first inlet of a turbulent flow suction device; and  
 (b) transferring the triglyceride component into a second inlet of the turbulent flow suction device; and  
   (D) producing a mixture of transsesterification reaction products in a holding chamber comprising circulating the triglyceride component from the holding chamber trough a triglyceride feed line to the second inlet of the turbulent flow suction device, after all of the catalyst solution has been transferred from the catalyst solution chamber, for a time sufficient to produce alkyl fatty acid ester product in the holding chamber.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  comprising circulating the triglyceride component in step (D) for from about 30 minutes to about 100 minutes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  comprising circulating the triglyceride component in step (D) for from about 45 minutes to about 90 minutes.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  comprising transferring all of the catalyst solution from the catalyst solution chamber in from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  comprising transferring all of the catalyst solution from the catalyst solution chamber in from about 15 minutes to about 20 minutes.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 (A) terminating circulation of the triglyceride component through the triglyceride feed line;    (B) allowing the transesterification reaction products to settle into layers in the holding chamber; and    (C) separating the alkyl fatty acid ester product from residual triglyceride, residual alcohol and glycerol components in the holding chamber.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising combining the catalyst solution with the triglyceride component in the catalyst-triglyceride mixing chamber in a ratio of from about 1/3 to about 1/10 by volume by adjusting relative flow rates of the catalyst solution and triglyceride component into the first and second inlets, respectively, of the turbulent flow suction device.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  comprising providing the ratio of catalyst solution to triglyceride component of from about 1/4 to about 1/6 by volume.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising forming the catalyst solution in a ratio of about 0.02 to about 0.15 parts by weight of catalyst component per 1 part by weight of alcohol component.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  comprising providing the ratio of from about 0.05 to about 0.07 parts by weight of catalyst component per 1 part by weight of alcohol component.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising selecting the solid catalyst component from one of more of the group consisting of lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising selecting the alcohol component from one or more of the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol and isopropanol.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising selecting the triglyceride component from one or more of the group consisting of triglycerides based on esters of (C 8 -C 24 )fatty acids.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising selecting the (C 8 -C 24 ) fatty acids from one or more of caprylic, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachnic, behinc, lignoceric, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and erucid acids.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 6  comprising the mixture of transesterification reaction products comprising an alkyl fatty acid ester and glycerol.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the alkyl fatty acid ester comprises one or more of methyl, ethyl and propyl esters.